Rooster Roundabout: This Week’s Music Highlights

\ Jan 09, 2014

4 min read

Rooster Roundabout: This weekÕs music highlights

Unfortunately I read the news too late for it to be included in last week’s Rooster Roundabout, but last Friday, Phil Everly (of The Everly Brothers) died at the age of 74. One of the greatest groups of all-time (I don’t care who disagrees), this is a major loss to the music world. And seing as how my all-time favorite love song is “All I Have To Do Is Dream,” it seems like a beautifully appropriate send-off to the man.

I like Common. Granted I’m not completely knowing of his musical repertoire. But having heard him recite poetry on “Def Poets,” I always thought his poetry was honest, visceral and relatable. And now Common has teamed up with No I.D. For a collaborative LP, titled Nobody Smiling. Not sure when it will be released, but Common and No I.D. Have made one track available (“War”). The album was thought of because of the violence permeating the Chicago area, but also in relation to violence happening all over the world. It’s some heavy stuff, but sometimes people need music like this to wake up and smell the blood.

For those of you who want to hear what Carrie Brownstein has in store for herself in 2014, you can read her extensive Stereogum interview.

I don’t know much about King Krule. Nothing, in fact. I know he’s a British musician whose debut album dropped in August (6 Feet Beneath the Moon), and now he’s released a video for the track “A Lizard State.” The track and video, a black-and-white representation of an Alfred Hitchcock influence, make me want to know more.

There’s not really much you can say about Bruce Springsteen that hasn’t already been said. The man is an institution. And said institution has a new album (High Hopes) coming out on Jan. 14, but like most people these days, he’s streaming it ahead of time to give people a sneak peak of what his new record will deliver. You can head over to CBS to hear the album in its entirety.

Some people’s dreams just came true … It’s been “confirmed” that OutKast are reuniting to play some shows at Coachella. Apparently, the rap group (comprised of Andre 3000 and Big Boi) are going to headline the Friday night sets (happening on April 11 and 18). So start booking some flights, buying festival tickets, packing them bags and get to the show! P.S. It’s also been announced that they’re going to headline the Governors Ball in June.

I’m not going to gush about Thee Oh Sees. I’ve done that many times, probably more than I should. But that’s neither here nor there. After the band claimed that they’re going on hiatus, singer John Dwyer has announced that he’s releasing a solo LP under the name Damaged Bug, titled Hubba Bubba. And he’s shared a track (“Eggs at Night”) off said album, which hits stores on Feb. 25. Mark them calendars.

This one has been a long time comin’. Sharon Jones & The Dap-Kings are set to release their latest LP (Give The People What They Want) on Jan. 14. But for those of you impatient hecklers, you can head over to NPR to stream it in is entirety. And if you want a great visual to an old-school kicker, you can watch the video for the track “Stranger To My Happiness” below.

I love Cee Lo Green. Love him. While I’m not too knowing of his work with Goodie Mob, I’ve always been a fan of Gnarls Barkley and his solo work (though “Fuck You” did get old after about two listens). Maybe it was Gwyneth Paltrow that ruined it. Either way … Green just did an interview where he talked about what 2014 has in store for him: a reality show, a new solo album (Girl Power), work with Goodie Mob and a possible Gnarls reunion. You can read more at Rolling Stone.

I mentioned a couple weeks back that St. Vincent would be releasing a self-titled album on Feb. 25. Now St. Vincent has shared another track from said album, titled “Digital Witness,” and digital it is … but with a disco-rock sound to it as well. If this track is anything to go by, I like St. Vincent’s direction (and the gray hair isn’t bad at all).

Just in case you wanted to see two legendary musical acts (The Byrds and Bob Dylan) perform a legendary number (“Mr. Tambourine Man”) in 1990, while providing a tribute to another legendary musician (Roy Orbison) who had died a month before due to a heart attack … (God rest his soul).